Former NYS Senate leader appealing his corruption conviction

Federal appeals court judges do not seem eager to embrace the arguments of lawyers seeking a new trial for former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son.

Credit WBFO Albany Correspondent Karen DeWitt

A three-judge panel Thursday heard attorney Alexandra Shapiro argue on the elder Skelos's behalf that the convictions of Skelos and his son Adam should be vacated. She said that would be consistent with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversing the conviction of a former Virginia governor.

However, the government disagrees.

Circuit Judge Reena Raggi of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenged Shapiro repeatedly, saying Shapiro was being "a little selective in the facts.''

The senior Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $800,000 in restitution and fines after prosecutors said he strong-armed three companies into giving his son $300,000.

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Former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $800,000 in restitution and fines Thursday after his conviction on corruption charges. His son Adam got six-and-a-half years.

Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday and told by a federal judge that he must give back $5 million that he stole from the public, as well a pay another $1.75 million in fines.